Boosting Confidence in Coding: The Power of Community and Support

That cursor blinks, mocking me as I stare helplessly at the blank coding screen, cursor blinking, taunting my self-doubt. Should I risk asking a silly question in class? Or expose more stupidity?
When I first started computer science classes, I can count the number of times I’ve asked a question in class on the fingers of one hand. Although my teachers often encourage participation, a select few students end up being the only participants each time.
Usually self-doubt convinces me that the solution I have in mind is wrong or the question I was about to ask is silly. I can’t take the risk, no matter how small, of humiliating myself in front of 30 students and the teacher, knowing that if I answer incorrectly, all my peers will know that I was confident enough in my incompetent answer to volunteer.
This constant feeling of shame will haunt me for the rest of the day, diverting me away from raising my hand again. When I needed an explanation, I usually turned to my friends - who were sometimes more confused than me - over raising my hand to ask the teacher in front of my class or in a public forum. Overthinking prompts the belief in my mind that my question is absurd, and my classmates will silently ridicule me. Yet alone, I spiral in tutorial purgatory, too ashamed to admit I'm stuck on JavaScript basics.
It has a name - imposter syndrome. Studies show nearly that about 70% of people have felt like impostors, have felt fraudulent, contributing to major burnout.
To overcome this, I found coding communities accelerate growth. With each question and meetup, confidence and skills build. Anonymity provides baby steps. Sites like Hashnode allow questions sans identity. It grants baby steps towards public courage.
Yes, coding requires thick skin. But parenting courage, not judging weakness, keeps coders in bootcamp for the long haul. Admitting what you don't know is the fastest way forward. The journey's lifelong, but communities light the path. I'll take mockery over stuckness any day. Pass the keyboard.